Single handle faucet valve



March 12, 1968 J. MILLER I 3,372,710

SINGLE HANDLE FAUCET VALVE Filed March 17, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.6

INVENTOR. LARRY J. MILLER BY A T TORN'EYS March 12, 1968 L. J. MILLER3,372,710

SINGLE HANDLE FAUCET VALVE Filed March 17, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7o 4s30 FIG. 2 1

l 46 28 i '47 76 E v v i) 25 l4 6 7 I I I 6 55 J 2 2| i4 60 l 40 I I I II I I I9 8 INVENTOR.

LARRY J. MILLER A 7' TORNEVS March 12, 1968 L. J. MILLER SINGLE HANDLEFAUCET VALVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 17, 1966 W A Y R R A L EV fmM114 @4055 M |1|l| m I i I :9 4 Mallll 9 6 3 Q United States Patent3,372,710 SINGLE HANDLE FAUCET VALVE Larry J. Miller,- 3810 Shoals,Drayton Plains, Mich- 48020 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No.456,311,

May 17, 1965. This application Mar. 17, 1966, Ser.

29 Claims. (Cl. 137-636.3)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The single handle faucet valve disclosedherein comprises a body defining a chamber having a fiat wall surfacewith hot and cold water inlets extending through the surface. A controldisc with a complementary flat surface is provided in contact with theflat wall surface of the chamber and has spaced openings therein movableinto and out of registry with the inlet openings. A sealing member isprovided adjacent the control member and sealing means on the controlmember are interposed between the sealing member and control member. Alever is journalled for rotation in the sealing member and has an endthereof interconnected with the control member. Means are provided forlimiting the movement of the lever to a reciprocating motion in a singleplane at an angle to the fiat surface of the chamber.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSer. No. 456,311, filed May 17, 1965, now abandoned.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a single handlefaucet valve that efiiciently controls the mixing of hot and cold water;which is relatively low in cost; which is relatively free ofmaintenance; which is lightweight;and which can be readily assembled anddisassembled for service.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a faucet embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG.1 on a greatly enlarged scale with the spout extending in a differentdirection.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIG.2, showing the spout in a different operative position.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 in FIG.2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 66 in FIG.2.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of a modifiedform of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG.7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-'9 in FIG.7.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are partly diagrammatic views showing the relativepositions of the parts in different positions of the valve.

Referring to FIG. 1, the faucet valve embodying the invention is adaptedto be used with various spout arrangements including the type shown inFIG. 1 wherein a spout 10 has a cylinder or sleeve 11 whereby it isrotatably mounted on the single handle faucet.

As shown in FIG. 2, the single handle faucet valve comprises a body 13that is formed with a cylindrical chamber or opening 14 that opensupwardly through the upper end of the body. The bottom surface 15 of thechamber 14 is substantially flat and inlet passages 16, 17

3,372,710 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 extend upwardly from the bottom of thebody 13 through the surface 15. Hot and cold water, respectively, areadapted to be supplied to the passages 16, 17 through inlet pipes 18, 19that are swaged or otherwise provided in the openings.

A sealing disc 20 which is preferably made of a low friction plasticmaterial that is rigid, non-deformable and resistant to hot water, suchas Delrin, is provided in the chamber 14. Sealing disc 20 is formed witha substantially flat bottom surface 21 that engages the fiat surface 15of chamber 14. The disc is provided with circular openings 22, 23 thatare adapted to be moved into registry with the upper ends of theopenings 16, 17 as shown in FIG. 4 or outof registry as shown in dottedlines in FIG. 4.

A sealing member 25 is provided in the upper end of chamber 14 and has aperipheral circular groove 26 in which an O-ring 27 of resilientmaterial such as synthetic rubber is provided to form a seal with thewall of the chamber 14. The upper end of the sealing member 25 isprovided with a radial projection 211 that extends into a depression 29in the body 13 and thereby prevents rotation of the sealing member 25. Ahead 30 is threaded on the upper end of the body 13 and has a surface 31that engages the upper end of the sealing member 25 to retain thesealing member into position.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the underside 32 of the sealing member 25 issubstantially flat and engages an O-ring 33 provided in a groove 34 inthe substantially fiat upper surface of the control disc 20. By thisarrangement, the sealing member 25 yieldingly urges the control disc 20and particularly the surface 21 of the control disc 20 into contact withthe bottom surface 15 of chamber 14. A seal is thereby provided whichpermits water into the area 35 but prevents the flow of water beyond the0- ring 33 or the O-ring 27.

Further in accordance with the invention, the upper ends 36, 37 of theinlet passages 16, 17 are enlarged to receive an annular sealing member38 of rubber or other suitable resilient material to provide a seal withthe undersurface 21 of the sealing member 20. In order to insure thisseal, coil springs 39 are compressed between shoulders 40 and 41 of thebody and shoulders on the sealing rings 38. In addition, to insure thatwater will not seep between the surfaces of the enlarged openings 36, 37and the respective sealing members 38, the lower end of each sealingmember 38 is substantially circular in cross section as at 42 integralwith the member to provide a secondary seal in the nature of an O-ringseal.

As shown in FIG. 2, a lever 45 in the form of a cylindrical stem isjournalled in the sealing member 25 by a ball 46 that is preferably madeof plastic, such as Delrin, and seats against a spherical seat 47. Apassage 49 in the lower end of sealing member 25 is elongated in asingle plane and has substantially the diameter of the lever 45 so thatthe lever can swing in only one plane but is rotatable about the axisthereof.

The lower end of the lever projects downwardly through passage 49 intothe sealing member 25 and a second ball 50 is provided on the lower endof the lever and held thereon by a pin 51, the ends of which extendbeyond the periphery of the ball. The ends 52 extend into verticalgrooves or slots 53 and thereby interconnect the lower end of the leverwith the control disc 20.

By this arrangement, swinging of the lever 45 in the single planecontrolled by the slot or passage 49 causes the control disc 20 to moveback and forth while rotation of the lever causes the control disc 20 torotate in any position. A control knob 54 is provided on the upper endof the lever 45.

By rotating the control knob 54, the openings 22 in the control disc canbe moved from position in registry with the inlet 16, 17 as shown inFIG. 4 in solid lines to a 7 3 position out of registry, therebycontrolling the amount of water flowing through the inlets into thechamber or space 35.

By swinging the lever back and forth, the extent of communication orregistry of the openings 22, 23 with the passages 16, 17 is controlled.By moving the lever to the left or counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 2,substantially the entire opening 22 is brought into registry with theinlet passage 16 so that only hot water will flow. By swinging the leverto the right or clockwise as shown in FIG. 2, substantially the entireopening 23 is brought into registry with the inlet passage 17 so thatonly cold water will flow.

In order to limit the rotation of the control disc 20 to full-open orfull-close position, the upper ball 46 has upwardly and outwardlyextending ears 75 which are diametrically opposed and extend into agenerally rectangular cavity 76 in the lower end of the sealing member25 (FIG. 6). As the lever 45 is rotated, the cars 75 engage the sides ofthe cavity '76 to limit the rotation of the lever as shown in brokenlines in FIG. 6.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the area 35 communicates through a passage55 with an exterior annular groove 56 in the body that in turncommunicates with the interior of the spout 10. A seal is providedbetween the cylindrical portion 11 of the spout and the outer surface ofthe valve body 13 by O-rings 57, 58, 59.

In accordance with well-known faucet valve construction, suitable meansmay be provided on the end of the spout 1t) to return the water througha tube 60 to an annular passage 61 in the body and downwardly to anoutlet 62 and in turn to a rinse tube. This arrangement forms no part ofthe present invention.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided a faucet valve whereina relatively limited number of parts are provided, eificient control ofhot and cold water is achieved and substantially no maintenance isrequired.

The various parts of the faucet valve are readily acces sible byremoving the head 30. In case wear or loss of resiliency occurs in theO-ring 33, a cylindrical control collar "it? is threaded into the upperend of the head 30 and is adapted to be threaded downwardly intoengagement with the upper end of the control member 25 to increase theforce of the control member against the O-ring 33.

As shown in FIG. 2, the disc 20 and control member 25 are preferablymade of plastic material and have various portions thereof cut away asat 7:1, 72 to reduce to the weight.

As shown in FIG. 7, this form of the single handle faucet valvecomprises a body 13 that is formed with a cylindrical chamber or opening14' that opens upwardly through the upper end of the body. The bottomsurface 15' of the chamber 14' is substantially flat and inlet passages16, 17 extend upwardly from the bottom of the body 13 through thesurface 15'. Hot and cold water, respectively, are adapted to besupplied to the passages 16, 17 through inlet pipes 18', 19 that areswaged or otherwise provided in the openings.

A sealing disc 20' which is preferably made of a low friction plasticmaterial that is rigid, non-deformable and resistant to hot water, suchas Delrin, is provided in the chamber 14. Sealing disc 20 is formed witha substantially flat bottom surface 21 that engages the flat surface 15'of chamber 14. The disc is provided with D-shaped openings 22, 23 thatare adapted to be moved into registry with the upper ends of theopenings 16', 17.

A sealing member 25' preferably made of the same plastic as sealing disc26' is provided in the upper end of chamber 14' and has a peripheralcircular groove 26' in which an O-ring 27 of resilient material such assynthetic rubber is provided to form a seal with the wall of the chamber14. The upper end of the sealing member 25 is provided with radialprojections 28' that extend into depressions 29 in the body 13 andthereby prevent rota- CPI 4. tion of the sealing member 25'. A head orcap 30 is threaded on the upper end of the body 13 and has a surface 31that engages the upper end of the sealing member 25 to retain thesealing member into position.

As further shown in FIG. 7, the underside '32 of the sealing member 25is substantially flat and engages an O-ring 33 provided in a groove 34'in the substantially fiat upper surface of the control disc 20. By thisarrangement, the sealing member 25 urges the control disc 20' andparticularly the surface 21 of the control disc 29 into contact with thebottom surface 15' of chamber 14. A seal is thereby provided whichpermits water into the area 35 but prevents the flow of water beyond theO- ring 33 or the O-ring 27.

Further in accordance with the invention, the upper ends 36, 37 of theinlet passages 16, 17. are enlarged to receive an annular sealing member38 of rubber or other suitable resilient material to provide a seal withthe undersurface 21 of the sealing member 20. In Order to insure thisseal, coil springs 39' are compressed between shoulders 40 and 41' ofthe body and shoulders on the sealing rings 38. In addition, to insurethat water will not seep between the surfaces of the enlarged openings36', 37' and the respective sealing members 38, the lower end of eachsealing member 38 is substantially circular in cross section as at 42'integral with the member to provide a secondary seal in the nature of anO-ring seal.

As shown in FIG. 7, a lever 45' in the form of a cylindrical stem isjournalled in the sealing member 25 by a collar 46' which has aspherical seat 46a engaging an upwardly extending spherical projection47' on the sealing member 25. The cross sectional configuration of thecomplementary portions of the collar 46 and lever 45' is D-shaped sothat they are non-rotatable relative to one another. The passage in theprojection 47 through which the lever extends is elongated in a singleplane and has substantially the diameter of the lever 45 so that thelever is free to swing in only one plane but is rotatable about the axisthereof.

The lower end of the lever projects downwardly through passage 49 intothe sealing member 25 and a ball 50 is provided on the lower end of thelever and held thereon by a pin 51, the ends 52' of which extend beyondthe periphery of the ball 50' into vertical grooves or slots 53 andthereby interconnect the lower end of the lever with the control disc20.

By this arrangement, swinging of the lever 45 in the single planecontrolled by the slot or passage 49"causes the control disc 20' to moveback and forth while rotation of the lever causes the control disc 20 torotate. A control knob 54 is provided on the upper end of the lever 45'.

By rotating the control knob 54', the openings 22 in the control disccan be moved from position in registry with the inlet 16, 17' as shownin FIG. 7 in solid lines to a position out of registry, therebycontrolling the amount of water flowing through the inlets into thechamber or space 35.

By swinging the lever back and forth, the extent of communication orregistry of the openings 22, 23 with the passages 16, 17 is controlled.By moving the lever to the left or counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 7,substantially the entire opening 22 is brought into registry with theinlet passage 16 so that only hot water will flow (FIG. ll). By swingingthe lever to the right or clockwise as shown in FIG. 7, substantiallythe entire opening 23 is brought into registry with the inlet passage 17so that only cold water will flow (FIG. 10).

In order to limit the rotation of the control disc 2% to full-open orfull-close position, the collar 46' is formed with diametricallyextending cars which are adapted to extend into engagement withgenerally fiat side walls 76 in the upper end of the sealing member 25(FIG. 8). As the lever 45 is rotated, the ears 75' engage the sides ofthe cavity 76 to limit the rotation of the lever. The

diameter of the collar 46' in the vicinity of the walls 76' issubstantially equal to the distance between the walls 76'.

As further shown in FIG. 7, the area 35' communciates through a passage55 with an exterior annular groove 56' in the body that in turncommunicates with the interior of the spout it). A seal is providedbetween the cylindrical portion 11' of the spout and the outer surfaceof the valve body 13' by O-rings 57', 58, 59.

In accordance with well-known faucet valve construction, suitable meansmay be provided on the end of the spout to return the water through atube 6% to an annular passage 61' in the body and downwardly to anoutlet 62 and in turn to a rinse tube. This arrangement forms no part ofthe present invention.

It can thus be seen that the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 7-12differs from the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-6 in (1) thereversal of the socket and ball connection between the lever and sealingmember, (2) the provision of the limitation of the rotation of the leveras being in the upper end of the sealing member rather than the lowerend of the sealing member, (3) the elimination of the control collar 70and (4) the changing of the openings in the valve member from a circularto a D'shaped configuration.

In each form of the invention, the faucet can be turned on or offwithout affecting the degree of registry of the control disc with theinlet passages.

Specifically, at any angular position of the handle, representing aspecific water setting of either hot, cold or mixed hot and cold, thehandle can be rotated to and from on and off position without affectingthe water setting. In addition, the water setting can be made before theknot is rotated to on position.

I claim:

1. In a single handle faucet valve, the combination comprising:

means defining a chamber,

said chamber having a substantially fiat wall surface along one wall,

hot and cold water inlets extending through said surface to saidchamber,

a control disc having a complementary fiat surface,

said disc having spaced openings therein movable into and out ofregistry with said inlet openings,

a sealing member spaced from said substantially flat sealing surface,

sealing means interposed between said sealing member and said controlmember providing a seal therebetween and yieldingly urging said controlmember against said substantially flat surface,

a lever,

means for journalling said lever for rotation in said sealing member,

means for guiding said lever for reciprocation in a substantially singleplane only at an angle to the flat surface of the chamber,

. means interconnecting one end of said lever with said control disc sothat rotation of said lever rotates said control disc and swinging ofsaid lever moves said control disc in said single plane.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said sealing meanscomprises an O-ring.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said inletopenings has an annular sealing member engaging the complementarysurface of said control disc.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means journallingsaid lever for rotation in said sealing member comprises a sphere fixedon said lever and a complementary spherical surface on said sealingmember.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forjournalling said lever for rotation in said seal- I ing member comprisesa spherical projection on said sealing member and a complementaryspherical seat on said lever.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said control disc, saidsealing member and said journalling means are made of low frictionplastic material which is rigid, non-deformable and resistant to hotwater.

7. In a single handle faucet valve, the combination comprising:

a body having a substantially cylindrical chamber,

said chamber having a substantially fiat bottom surface,

inlet passages extending from the bottom of said body upwardly to saidsubstantially fiat surface,

a control disc having a complementary surface engaging said bottomsurface of said chamber,

said control disc having spaced openings therein adapted upon movementof said control disc to move into and out of communication with saidinlet openings in the body,

a sealing member positioned in said chamber,

sealing means extending between the walls of said chamber and saidsealing member,

a head closing the upper end of said body and retaining said sealingmember from movement outwardly of said body,

said sealing member having a substantially flat surface,

said control disc having a second surface complementary to said surfaceof said sealing member,

sealing means extending between said complementary surfaces of saidsealing member and said control disc,

a lever,

said head having an opening through which said lever extends with oneend exteriorly of said head and the other end extending downwardlywithin said chamber of said body,

means for journalling said lever for rotation within said sealingmember,

the lower end of said lever extending into said control disc,

means for connecting the lower end of said lever to said control disc,

and means for guiding said lever for movement in a single plane.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said sealing meansbetween said sealing member and said control disc comprises an Oring.

9. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said sealing meansbetween said sealing member and said body comprises an O-ring.

10. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said means forjournalling said lever for rotation in said sealing member comprises asphere fixed on said lever and a complementary spherical surface on saidsealing member.

11. The combination set forth in ciaim 7 wherein said meansinterconec'ting the lower end of said lever and said control 'disccomprises a sphere fixed on said lever,

and means interconnecting and projecting outwardly from said sphere intocorresponding openings in said control disc.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said last-mentionedmeans comprises a pin extending through said second-mentioned sphere andsaid lever,

and axially extending grooves in said control disc engaged by the endsof said pin.

13. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said means forjournalling said lever for rotation in said sealing member comprises aspherical projection on said sealing member,

and a complementary member on said lever having a spherical seatengaging said spherical projection.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said control disc,said sealing member and said complementary member on said lever are madeof a low friction plastic material that is rigid, non-deformable andresistant to hot water.

15. The combination set forth in claim 7 including annular sealingmembers provided in the upper end of each said inlet openings andengaging the underside of the control disc.

16. The combination set forth in claim including spring means yieldinglyurging said last-mentioned sealing members upwardly.

17. The combination set forth in claim 7 including means movable axiallyin said head and engaging said sealing member to control the sealingforce between said sealing member and said control disc.

18. In a single handle faucet valve, the combination comprising:

means defining a chamber,

said chamber having a substantially flat wall surface along one wall,

hot and cold water inlets extending through face to said chamber,

a control disc having a complementary flat surface,

said disc having spaced openings therein movable into and out ofregistry with said inlet openings,

a sealing member spaced from said substantially flat sealing surface,

O-ring sealing means interposed between said sealing member and saidcontrol member providing a seal therebetween and yieldingly urging saidcontrol member against said substantially flat surface,

O-ring sealing means between said sealing member and the remaining wallsof said chamber,

each of said inlet openings having an annular sealing member engagingthe complementary surface of said control disc,

a lever,

means journalling said lever for rotation in said sealing member,

means for guiding said lever for reciprocation in a substantially singleplane only,

means interconnecting one end of said lever with said control disc sothat rotation of said lever rotates said control disc and swinging ofsaid lever moves said control disc in said single plane.

19. In a single handle faucet valve, the combination comprising:

a body having a substantially cylindrical chamber opening to the upperend of said body,

said chamber having a substantially flat bottom surface,

inlet passages extending from the bottom of said body upwardly to saidsubstantially fiat surface,

a control disc having a complementary surface engaging said surface ofsaid body,

said control disc having spaced openings therein adapted upon movementof said control disc to move into and out of communication with saidinlet openings in the body,

a sealing member positioned in said chamber,

O-ring type sealing means extending between the walls of said chamberand said sealing member,

a head closing the upper end of said chamber in said body and retainingsaid sealing member against movement outwardly of said body,

said sealing member having a substantially flat bottom surface,

said control disc having a surface complementary to said surface of saidsealing member,

O-ring type sealing means extending between said surfaces of saidsealing member and said control disc,

a lever,

said head having an opening through which said lever extends with oneend exteriorly of said head and the other end extending downwardlywithin said chamber of said body,

said sealing member having a spherical sealing surface in the upper endthereof,

a first ball on said lever intermediate its ends and engaging said sealin said sealing member to journal said lever for rotation within saidsealing member,

said surthe lower end of said lever extending through said sealingmember into said control disc,

a second ball on the lower end of said lever,

interengaging means between said second ball and said control discinterconnecting said second ball and said lever,

said sealing member having a radially elongated slot through which saidlever extends to guide said lever for movement in a single plane.

20. The combination set forth in claim 19 wherein said interengagingmeans comprises a pin extending through said second sphere and saidlever,

and axially extending grooves in said control disc engaged by the endsof said pin.

21. The combination set forth in claim 19 including annular sealingmembers provided in the upper end of each said inlet openings andengaging the underside of the control disc.

22. The combination set forth in claim 19 including means for limitingthe rotational movement of said control disc.

23. The combination set forth in claim 22 wherein said last-mentionedmeans comprises radially extending ears on said second bal'l,

said sealing member having a non-circular opening in the undersidethereof into which said ears extend and against the side walls of whichthe ears engage to limit the rotational movement of the control disc.

24. The combination set forth in claim 19 including a delivery spouthaving a generally cylindrical wall attached thereto,

said wall being telescoped over said body,

O-ring type sealing means interposed between the inner surface of saidcylindrical wall and the outer surface of said body.

25. The combination set forth in claim 19 including a collar threadedinto said head and adapted to engage the top surface of said sealingmember for controlling the sealing force between said sealing member andsaid control disc.

In a single handle faucet, the combination comprising:

a body having a substantially cylindrical chamber opening to the upperend of said body,

said chamber having a substantially flat bottom surface,

inlet passages extending from the bottom of said body upwardly to saidsubstantially flat surface,

a control disc having a complementary bottom surface engaging saidsurface of said body,

said control disc having spaced openings therein adapted upon movementof said control disc to move into and out of communication with saidinlet openings in the body,

a sealing member positioned in said chamber,

O-ring type sealing means extending between the walls of said chamberand said sealing member,

a head closing the upper end of said chamber in said body and retainingsaid sealing member against movement outwardly of said body,

said sealing member having a substantially flat bottom surface,

said control disc having a top surface complementary to said surface ofsaid sealing member,

O-ring type sealing means extending between said complementary surfacesof said sealing member and said control disc,

a lever,

said head having an opening through which said lever extends with oneend exteriorly of said head and the other end extending downwardlywithin said chamber of said body,

said sealing member having an upwardly extending spherical projectionhaving an opening through which said lever extends,

said opening in said projection being elongated to guide said lever formovement in a single plane,

a complementary member on said lever having a spherical seat engagingthe spherical projection on said sealing member,

the lower end of said lever extending through said opening in saidsealing member into said control disc,

a ball member on the lower end of said lever,

and interengaging means between said ball member and said control discinterconnecting said ball and said control disc.

27. The combination set forth in claim 26 wherein said control disc,said sealing member, said complementary member on said lever and saidball member are made of low friction plastic material which is rigid,non-deformable and resistant to hot water.

28. The combination set forth in claim 26 including means limiting therotational movement of said control disc.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hinerer 137-6362 X Monson137-6362 X Adams 251-172 X Perlman 137-6363 X Perlman 137-6363 XCLARENCE R. GORDON, Primary Examiner.

